Orange-Basil Salmon and Crispy Potatoes (Paleo, Whole30)

There is little more comforting in the fall months than a one-pan meal full of flavour and nourishment. Make that a one-pan meal of salmon and crispy new potatoes, served alongside a green veggie, and you’ve got a winner that the whole family will love! I believe that food is a love language, and cooking a comforting dinner like this is a way that I show love to my parents and little sister (though she doesn’t always appreciate seafood. 😉 ) Show some love to your family – and to yourself! – by sharing healthy, delicious food.

Wanna know the secret to super crispy potatoes??? LARD. Don’t run away screaming, now. Lard is actually extremely beneficial to human health – properly raised lard, that is. I am currently reading Eat The Yolks by Liz Wolfe, and it’s a must-read. Liz talks about how the foods our bodies need to thrive are the ones those on the Standard American Diet (aka low-fat, high refined carbs and sugars) aren’t eating. One of those foods is lard. The name alone makes people wince in fear, but it’s truly not the demon it has been made out to be. Lard rendered from pigs raised outside, on pastures, is full of Vitamin D, a vitamin necessary to human health. It’s also a primarily saturated fat, which is not a bad thing – the name refers to the structure of the fat, and saturated fat’s structure is very stable, unlike the processed crop oils we’ve been told to eat. A stable fat = less/no oxidization, which does not create inflammation in the body. Basically: don’t fear the fat, and don’t fear the pastured lard. In fact, enjoy it, as it makes the crispiest spuds ever!

Big news: my amazingly talented friend, Maris, is going to be sharing a few of my recipes through her newsletter! Make sure you check it out – I always love getting my weekly dose of Maris in my inbox. The best part about blogging has no doubt been being able to connect with like-minded people 🙂 Also expect an interview here about her soon!

Set oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. If your oven has a "Roast" setting, use that!

Potatoes

Toss all ingredients together in a bowl.

Spread out on a baking rack over a deep baking tray, or use a heavy-duty baking sheet.

Salmon

Mix melted lard with garlic and seasoning, and spread over salmon fillets.

Place on the tray with the potatoes, so they surround the fish.

Roast at 375 until the fish has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit when tested with a thermometer and the potatoes are crispy and tender inside. The time will depend on the thickness of your salmon fillets.

Serve with a green salad or steamed veggie and top the salmon with basil and a squeeze of fresh orange juice! Enjoy.

I buy my lard at the local farmers’ market! It’s probably the best place to find it and buy it, because it’s local and you can know exactly how the pigs were raised. And that’s very important when eating animal fat! So I’d say check out your farmers’ market or search up organic & pastured pig farmers in your area. 🙂

Thanks so much and I hope you can convince him that salmon is delicious!!